Angle gauge



April 2, 1940. F. w.l BILLKER Erm.

ANGLE GAUGE Filled sept. 19, 1938 t y Patenti-,a Apr. 2, 194e 1irso-sr-irs ANGLE GAUGE i f Fredrick Billker land Harry J'. Tapper, Mil- Waukce, Wis., assignors 'to Milwaukee Saw Trimmer Corporation, poration of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wis., 'a cor- Application-September19, 1938, Serial-Non 230,567

io oiaims.

Our present invention relates in general to improvernents in attachments for facilitating cutting of various kinds ofprinters spacing and blocking stock at any desired angle on an ordinary trim.-

ming machine, and relates more specificallyto improvements in the construction and operation of angle determining appliances for properly positioningrule, blocks or other spacing material so that the same may be cutjor dressed to the desired angle.

The primary object of our invention is to pro- 'vide an improved angle determining attachmentv for cutting machines, which is simple and durable in constructon, and which is also accurate and flexible in use. s

It has heretofore been lproposed as shown and described in copending application Serial No. 160,- 853, led August 25, 1937,y to provide accurately adjustable angle determining mechanism applicable'as an attachment to standard cutting and trimming machines, for the purpose of enabling printers to` cut rule, `blocks and other spacing materials in order to meet the increasing demand for the production of complicated layouts especially in advertising` compositions. .Vlhile this prior mechanism has proven highly satisfactory in actual use, and is quickly attachable'to and removable from the cutting machine, it has been found that the range o-f adjustment which in the prior attachment is from zero to approximately an angle of eighty-five degreesis not sufficient for all classes of work; and the clamping mechanism for attaching blocks to the angle .predetermining arm can not beconveniently utilized to effectively secure blocks and larger` pieces of spacing material to the arm. The prior angle gauge moreover prior application, wherebythe operation is improved and the range of adjustment is increased to nearly theA maximum of ninety degrees.

Another lspecific object cf our invention is to provide anew and useful angle gauge in which the work is rigidly held in thefdesired position dur- `ing the cutting operation, land which is adapted to cooperate with various sizes or kinds of spacing material. j s

, A `further'specii'ic objectofthe invention is to provide animproved telescopic quadrant adjusting device wherein angular adjustments may be made about an imaginary-axis-without having an obstructive pivot pin at such axis, and in which the work is firmly and accurately supported for all positions of adjustment. l s

' Still another specic object of this invention is to provide a compact and durable angle predeterinining attachment for the gauge bar of a standard trimming machine, whichcan be manufactured and sold atmoderate cost and which possesses a wide range of usefulness.

These andother speciiic objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following de-v tailed descriptiomand some of the novel-features of angle gauge attachment, shown but not specifically claimedqherein, form thesubject of the copending application hereinabove referred to.

A clear conception ofthe various features constituting the present improvement, and of the `construction-and operation of an angle gauge embodying our invention, may be had by referring to the drawing `accompanyingand forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar partsin the varlous views. s i

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the improved angle gauges associated with a fragmentl of a trimming machine; and showing the angle gauge arm swung ata slight angle, in dot-and-dash lines; f

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the angle gauge attachment alone; n s

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the attachment alone;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the attachment, taken ,along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. k5 is an `end elevation of the attachment showing a modified clamping jaw assemblage.

While our invention'has been illustrated and described herein as being embodied in an angle gauge attachment for a particular type of cutting machine, it is not the intent to thereby' unnecessarily limit the scope. o 45 Referring to the drawing, and more especially to Fig. 1, the standard cutting machine shown therein comprises a xed support or table 5 over the top surface of which various kinds of blocking, spacing and printing material or work is nor- 50 mally slidable while engaging a calibrated gauge bar v6 which is movable along the table and is guided in a groove 1 for movement past a rotary cutter or saw 8. The work may normally be clamped or held manually against the front of ifi s the gauge bar 6, and. this type of trimming machine is of well known construction.

Our improved angle cutting attachment is shown clamped to the end of the gauge bar 6 nearest the saw 8, in Fig. 1, and is also shown removed from the cutting machine in Figs. 2 and 3, and this attachment comprises in general a quadrant member or frame 9 having a depending rigid lug or leg I0 adapted to coact with the front face of a gauge bar 6; a positioning rod II extending away from the leg Ill along the gauge bar 6 and being provided with a positioning pin I2 which is cooperable with the gauge bar end; a clamping block I3 movable by an eccentric I4 which is operable by a handle I5 to clamp the face of the leg I Il against the front face of the gauge bar; a quadrant guide bar I6 slidable in an upper groove I'I in the frame 9 about an imaginary axis I8 and having a lower arcuate slot I9 cooperable with a pin 20 carried by the frame 9 to limit the arcuate movement thereof; `an upper calibrated quadrant plate 2| having a lower arcuate groove 22 coacting with the bar I6 and being provided with a stop screw 23 coacting with an arcuate slot 24 formed in the upper portion of the bar I6; a calibrated work engaging bar 25 rigidly secured to and suspended from the quadrant plate ZI by means of upright pins 26; and a clamping member 21 suspended from the' frame 9 by means of a horizontal pin 28 and being movable into clamping engagement with the tapered peripheral surface 29 of the quadrant plate 2l by means of a lever 3D having screw thread coaction with the pin 28.

The frame 9 is approximately a quarter segment of an annular ring disposed concentrically of the imaginary axis i8, and the rod I I is rigidly attached to the leg I9 but may be made adjustable relative to the frameS, and the attachment may obviously be applied to any portion ofv the -bar 6. The clamping block I3 and eccentric I4 are suspended from -a cylindrical column 3I formed integral with and depending from the frame 9 in spaced relation to the leg IIJ; and the block I3 which embraces the eccentric vI4 is prevented from rotating completely therearound, by

l means of a pin 32 secured to the frame 9 and loosely coacting with a hole in the clamping block. The frame 9 also has an arcuate guide flange 33 secured thereto and cooperating with the guide bar I6 to hold the gauge plate 2I in position, while permitting sliding rotative movement of both the bar I6 and of the plate 2| relative to the frame 9, and to each other, about the imaginary axis I8. The gauge plate 2| is provided with calibrations or graduations 34 representing degrees of displacement; and the slots I9, 24 in the guide bar I6 are approximately forty-five degrees in length so that the gauge plate 2| may be initially swung about the axis llapproximately forty-ve degrees in either direction, without displacing thesupporting and guiding bar I6 relative to the frame 9, while continued subsequent swinging of the gauge plate 2l willalso move or slide the bar I6 in the groove I'I, until the maximum displacement of the plate 2l has been effected. The clamping block or member 21 which is cooperable with the tapered gauge' plate surface 29 vto hold the plate 2l in adjusted position, is provided with an angle designating line or zero mark 35 which is cooperable with the graduations 34 to predetermine the angle' of cutting.

As previously indicated, the auxiliary gauge bar 25 isrigidly secured to the gauge plate 2l by means of the spaced upright pins 26, and the bar 25 is therefore swingable about the axis I8 when the plate 2| is shifted. The bar 25 has a calibrated stripy 36 for determining the length of the piece which is to be trimmed or cut, and also has a T-groove 3l extending throughout the length thereof. Several types of Work abutments or clamps may be provided for cooperation with and adjustment along the groove 3I. As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, a relatively thin and flat abutment stop 38 which may be clamped in position by means of a lever 39 having a threaded eXtension 48 piercing the stop 38 and coacting with a clamping block 4I slidable within the groove 3'I, may be provided. As illustrated in Fig. l, an alternative form of abutment comprising a rather thick stop 42 with a tapered work engaging face, and clamped in position by means of a lever 43 having a threaded projection 44 coacting with a clamping block 45 slidable within the groove 3l, may also be provided. In lieu of theabutment stops 58, 42, an adjustable spring clamp of the type shown in the copending Billker application Serial No. 160,853, may be provided in order to clamp small pieces oi work to the bar25.

While some work may be held manually against the bar Z5 and stops 38 or 42, itis desirable in many cases, to clamp thework to the bar. For this purpose, the lower portion. of the bar 25 is provided with an elongated reaction plate 4S pivotally attached to the bar 'bya pin 4'I- coacting with a slot and located near the imaginary axis i8. This plate 46 is either swingable outwardly beyond the iront work` engaging face of the bar 25 by means of a spindle 48 journalled in the swingable gauge bar 25 near the axis I8, is provided with a rigid bracket 5I fromv which a clamping jaw 52 is swingably suspended by means of a pivot pin 53, and the jaw V52, has an integral lug 54 with which an adjustable screw 55 is cooperable to force the clamping jaw against apiece of Work resting upon the reaction plate 46 and engaging the front face. of the bar 25. A spring 55 secured to the pin 53 serves to. urge the jaw 52 upwardly when the screw 55 is retracted. As shown in Fig. 5, the end of the bar 25 `nearest the imaginary axis I8 may be provided with a modified clamping jaw 52 which is cooperable. with the lower plate 45', and is adjustable bymeans of a nut 5l coacting with a stud 58. An adjusting member 59 serves to move the jawV 52 outwardly and the plate 46? can also be shifted outwardly as previously described. These work clamping rigs do not interfere with they adjustment of the stops 38, 42 along the swingable bar 25.

During normal use of the improved angle cutl ting attachment, the frame 9 may be clamped to the main gauge bar 6 of the cutting and trimming machine any desired distance from the plane of cutting, with the aid of theeccentric I4 and clamping block I3, as shown in Fig. 1, and the entire attachment is prevented from extending across the plane of the saw 8 by means of the rod II and projection I2, and the, leg I0 all of which coact with the gauge bar 6. The attachment is then movable over the table 5 and past the plane ofr cutting, together with the main .blocks and slabs.` The improved mounting for gauge bar 6, and with'the auxiliary calibrated bar 25A disposed parallelv to the main gauge bar 6, right angle cuts may be made at the ends of work positioned against the front face of thebar 25.

When it becomes desirable to position the work at a predetermined angle relative to the plane guide bar I6 does not move with respect to the.

of cutting, the auxiliary swinging bar25 may be adjusted so as to cause its front face tov assume any desired angle relative to the plane of thel saw 8. Such adjustment ofthe bar 25-can be readily effected by merely manipulating the lever 30 to release the clamping block 2l, and by subsequently moving the bar 25 so as to cause the f desired graduation 34' to register with themark 35 which is xed with respect tothe frame 8.l The bar 25 together with the plate 2| Awillswing about the imaginary axis I8 when such adjustment is being effected, and during the initial swinging of the gauge bar 25 through anangle of approximately forty-five degrees, the arcuate frame S. However, as the gauge bar 25 is swung beyond the forty-five degree angle, then the l screw 23 coacting with the slot 24 causes the arcuate bar I6 to move with the'plate 2l. The gauge bar 25 may be swung about the imaginary axis I8 approximately' eighty-eight degrees from its original position,thereby permitting the work vto be trimmed at angles ranging from zero to eighty-eight degrees. This range of trimming is made possible by the swinging of the elements about an imaginaryl axisy I8 and without utilizing a pivot pin near the point of swing, and the telescoping arcuate bar I 6 provides an effective support for the gauge plate 2l when the adjustment is carried beyond the forty-five degree position. When the desired adjustment of the gauge bar 25 has been effected, the lever 30 may be manipulated to clamp the gauge plate 2| in adjusted position, thus assuring maintenance of the predetermined angle of setting.

The stop 38 is ordinarily suflicient to position ythe work with reference to the graduated strip` 36, but the stop 42 may be utilized toadvantage in cutting thin material. If' it becomes desirable to clamp the work to the gauge bar 25 either a clamp such as shown in the prior application Serial No. 160,853 may be utilized, or the clamp provided at the pivoted end of the gauge bar 25 may be used. The spindle 48 may then be operated to project the lower platellt` forwardly of the gauge bar 25. The work may then be placed upon the plate 45 and the clamping jaw l52 may be lowered by manipulation of the screw 55, so as to :rmly clamp the work betweenl the plate 46 andthe jaw 52. The work will then be `firmly held in position and need not be held manually,

and this clamping attachment has been found extremely useful in connection with the trimming of certain classes of work. The modified clamp of Fig. may also be utilized for this purpose, and when this modified clamp is employed,

it is preferable to shift the bar 45 outwardly at f all points, and the upper jaw 52 must also be moved outwardly with the aid of the member 59.

From the foregoing detailed description it will ybe apparent that our present invention provides an improved angle cutting attachment for trimming and cutting machines, which'is not only extremely rigid and simple in construction, but which is moreover highly flexible in use. With the improved attachment the vision of the operator is obstructed to the least extent, and angles of from zero toeighty-eight degrees may be readily cut on any kind of work including the gauge bar and gauge plate 2| insures accuracyin cutting by providing a firm support for the work and by holding the work at lthe desired angle during the cutting operation, and the attachment may be secured at any distance from the plane of cutting. The improved clamping mechanism comprising the supporting plate 45, lid' and the jaw 52, 52 provides simple and effective means' for firmly holding the work in vposition during cutting, and the entire attachmentconstitutes a unit which may be readily applied to or removed from a standard cutting and trimming machine.

vlage has proven highly successful in actual commercial use, and may be manufactured and sold frame having an arcuategroove therein, an arcuate guide bar slidable within said groove through an angle of approximately-.forty-five degrees with respect to an imaginary axis, a gauge plate slidable on said frame` and having an arcuate groove slidable on said guide'bar through an adjoining angle of approximately forty-five degrecs, and a work engaging gauge bar swingable about said axis with said gauge plate, said guide bar being xed relative to saidframe during initial angular displacement of said gauge plate and being movabley relative to said frame with said gauge plate duringy subsequent displacement of the latter. i l 3. An angle gauge attachment for cutting machinas, comprising, a frame having an arcuategroove and an arcuate guide flange spaced from. saidxgroove-,wsaid groove and flange having a kcommon imaginary axisl of generation, a guide bar coacting with said groove and being slidable therealong about said axis, a gauge plate'slid-- ably cooperable with said'ange and guide bar,

and a work engaging gauge bar secured to and swingable with said plate about said axis,

4. An angle gauge attachment for cutting machines, comprising, a frame having an arcuate groove and an arcuate guide flange spaced from said groove, said groove and flange having a common imaginary axis of generation, a guide bar coacting with said groove and being slidable therealong about said axis, a gauge plate slidably cooperable with said flange and guide bar, and a work engaging gauge bar secured to and swingablewith said plate about said axis, said 5 guide bar being fixed relative to `said framey and flange during initial angular displacement of said plate and being subsequently movable with said plate and relative to said frame. ,l

5. An angle gauge attachment for cutting machines, comprising, a frame having an arcuate groove and an arcuate guide flange spaced from said groove, said groove and flange having a common imaginary axis of generation, a guide bar coactingwith said groove and being slidable therealong about said axis, a gauge plate slidably The improved assem- 1 cooperable with said flange and guide bar, a work engaging gauge bar secured to and swingable with said plate about said axis, and releasable means for clamping said work engaging bar relative to said frame in various positions of adjustment.

6. An angle gauge attachment comprising, a fra-Ine, a gauge plate swingable upon said frame about an imaginary axis located remote from said frame and plate, a work engaging bar swingable with said plate and having a plane upright work contacting surface approaching said axis, a work supporting plate secured to the lower portion of said bar and being movable from a. 4position of alinement with. said plane surface outwardly therebeyond to provide a work supporting ledge, and a clamp movable downwardly toward said ledge near said axis.

7. An angle gauge comprising, a frame movable past a cutter, a gauge plate swingable relative to said frame about an imaginary axis located near the plane of cutting and remote from said frame and plate,a gauge bar swingable with said plate about said axis and having a plane upright work contacting face approaching said axis, a work positioning stop adjustable along said bar, a Work supporting plate adjustably associated with the bottom of said bar and being movable outwardly from a position of alinement with said face to provide a work supporting ledge, and a clamping'jaw carried by said bar and being movable downwardly toward said ledge.

8. An angle gauge comprising, a frame movable past a cutter, a gauge plate swingable relative to said frame about an imaginary axis located near the plane of cutting andremote from said frame andv plate, a gauge'bar swingable with said plate about said axis and having a plane upright work contacting face approaching said axis, a vwork positioning stop adjustable along said bar, a work supporting plate adjustably associated with the bottom of said bar and being y movable outwardly from a position of alinement with said face to provide a work supporting ledge, and a clamping jaw carried by said bar and being movable downwardly toward said ledge, said stop being movable along said bar between said ledge and said clamping jaw.

9. An angle gauge comprising, a frame, a gauge plate swingable relative to said frame, a gauge bar swingable with said plate and having a plane uprightwork engaging surface, a work supporting ledge movable from a position of alinement with said surface forwardly beyond the lower portion thereof, and a work clamping jaw carried -by said bar and being adjustable ltoward said ledge from above said surface.

l0. An angle gauge comprising, a frame movable past a cutter, a gauge plate swingably mounted upon said frame and being movable therewith and adjustable relative thereto, a bar swingable with said gauge plate and having an upright work engaging face, a plate adjustably attached to the bottom of said bar and being movable outwardly from a position of alinement with said face to provide a lower work supporting ledge, and a clamp carried b-y said bar and being movable toward said ledge.

FREDRICK W. BILLKER. HARRY J. TAPPER. 

